Another illegal dump discovered

by Krystal Paco

Guam - Another illegal dumpsite was uncovered in the Nimitz Hill area. Earlier this week, Maria Castro, part owner of Todu Mauleg, granted the Guam Power Authority permission to pass through her yard in order to clear vegetation under their lines. Through the vegetation, GPA unearthed an illegal dumpsite on GovGuam property Wednesday morning.

By the time Guam Environmental Protection Agency reported to the scene Thursday, members of the Todu Mauleg family were clearing the debris. According to Castro's brother Roman, the operations manager for Todu Mauleg, they are not to blame for the eyesore. "We don't know who owns the trash, but we end up cleaning it just by being a good resident, citizen so we have to clean it we don't want our neighbors to complain about it," he stated.

Castro says the cleanup crew consisted of eight of his grandchildren and two Todu Mauleg employees operating backhoe equipment. He claims that the dumpsite may belong to the land's prior owner. Castro, who is 67 years old, could not even recognize the make of the soda bottles his grandchildren collected yesterday. "I don't know whose trash is that, but it's not my sister's," he shared.

Castro is upset that anyone would want to dirty their reputation with such accusations. According to Guam EPA director Ivan Quinata, reporting illegal dumpsites is critical to the safety of the community, saying, "I think it's very irresponsible of people creating the dumpsites. They don't understand these illegal dumpsites may create a contamination problem."

Quinata says their report on the site's findings will not be available until next week.